That evening, after dining alone, the Doctor went in to Bathurst's.
The latter had already heard the news, and they talked it over for
some time. Then the Doctor said, "Have you seen Forster, Bathurst,
since he arrived?"

"No, I was out when he left his card. I was at school with him..
I heard when I was in England that he was out here in the native
cavalry, but I have never run across him before, and I own I had
no wish to do so. He was about two years older than I was, and was
considered the cock of the school. He was one of my chief tormentors.
I don't know that he was a bully generally--fellows who are really
plucky seldom are; but he disliked me heartily, and I hated him.

"I had the habit of telling the truth when questioned, and he
narrowly escaped expulsion owing to my refusing to tell a lie about
his being quietly in bed when, in fact, he and two or three other
fellows had been out at a public house. He never forgave me for it,
for he himself would have told a lie without hesitation to screen
himself, or, to do him justice, to screen anyone else; and the mere
fact that I myself had been involved in the matter, having been
sent out by one of the bigger fellows, and, therefore, having got
myself a flogging by my admission, was no mitigation in his eyes
of my offense of what he called sneaking.

"So you may imagine I have no particular desire to meet him again.
Unless he has greatly changed, he would do me a bad turn if he had
the chance."

"I don't think he has greatly changed," the Doctor said. "That was
really what I came in here for this evening rather than to talk
about this Sepoy business. I am sorry to say, Bathurst, that when
he was in at the Major's today your name happened to be mentioned,
and he said at once, 'Is that the Bathurst who they say showed the
white feather at Chillianwalla and left the army in consequence?'"

Bathurst's face grew pale and his fingers closed. He remained silent
a minute, and then said, "It does not matter; she would have been
sure to hear it sooner or later, and I should have told her myself
if he had not done so; besides, if, as I am afraid, this Berhampore
business is the beginning of trouble, and of such trouble as we have
never had since we set foot in India, it is likely that everyone
will know what she knows now. Has she spoken to you about it? I
suppose she has, or you would not have known that he mentioned it."

"Well, I was sorry I could not tell her exactly what you told me.
It would have been better if I could have done so. I simply said
there were many sorts of courage, and that I was sure that you
possessed many sorts in a very high degree, but I could not, of
course, deny; although I did not admit, the truth of the report he
had mentioned."

"I don't think it makes much difference one way or the other,"
Bathurst said wearily. "I have known all along that Isobel Hannay
would not marry a coward, only I have gone on living in a fool's
paradise. However, it is over now--the sooner it is all over the
better."

"My dear fellow," the Doctor said earnestly, "don't take this thing
too much to heart. I don't wish to try and persuade you that it
is not a grave misfortune, but even suppose this trouble takes the
very worst form possible, I do not think you will come so very badly
out of it as you anticipate. Even assuming that you are unable to
do your part in absolute fighting, there may be other opportunities,
and most likely will, in which you may be able to show that although
unable to control your nerves in the din of battle, you possess in
other respects coolness and courage. That feat of yours of attacking
the tiger with the dog whip shows conclusively that under many
circumstances you are capable of most daring deeds."

Bathurst sat looking down for some minutes. "God grant that it may
be so," he said at last; "but it is no use talking about it any
more, Doctor. I suppose Major Hannay will keep a sharp lookout over
the men?"

"Yes; there was a meeting of the officers this afternoon. It was
agreed to make no outward change, and to give the troops no cause
whatever to believe that they are suspected. They all feel confident
of the goodwill of the men; at the same time they will watch them
closely, and if the news comes of further trouble, they will prepare
the courthouse as a place of refuge."

"That is a very good plan; but of course everything depends upon
whether, if the troops do rise in mutiny, the people of Oude should
join them. They are a fighting race, and if they should throw in
their lot against us the position would be a desperate one."

"Well, there is no doubt," the Doctor said, "that the Rajah of
Bithoor would be with us; that will make Cawnpore safe, and will
largely influence all the great Zemindars, though there is no doubt
that a good many of them have been sulky ever since the disarmament
order was issued. I believe there are few of them who have not got
cannon hidden away or buried, and as for the people, the number
of arms given up was as nothing to what we know they possessed. In
other parts of India I believe the bulk of the people will be with
us; but here in Oude, our last annexation, I fear that they will
side against us, unless all the great landowners range themselves
on our side."

"As far as I can see," Bathurst said, "the people are contented with
the change. I don't say what I may call the professional fighting
class, the crowd of retainers kept by the great landowners, who were
constantly fighting against each other. Annexation has put a stop
to all that, and the towns are crowded with these fighting men, who
hate us bitterly; but the peasants, the tillers of the soil, have
benefited greatly. They are no longer exposed to raids by their
powerful neighbors, and can cultivate their fields in peace and
quiet. Unfortunately their friendship, such as it is, will not
weigh in the slightest degree in the event of a struggle. At any
rate, I am sure they are not behind the scenes, and know nothing
whatever of any coming trouble. Going as I do among them, and
talking to them as one of themselves, I should have noticed it had
there been any change in them; and of late naturally I have paid
special notice to their manner. Well, if it is to come I hope it
will come soon, for anything is better than suspense."

Two days later Major Hannay read out to the men on parade an
official document, assuring them that there was no truth whatever
in the statements that had been made that the cartridges served
out to them had been greased with pigs' fat. They were precisely
the same as those that they had used for years, and the men were
warned against listening to seditious persons who might try to
poison their minds and shake their loyalty to the Government. He
then told them that he was sorry to say that at one or two stations
the men had been foolish enough to listen to disloyal counsels,
and that in consequence the regiments had been disbanded and the
men had forfeited all the advantages in the way of pay and pension
they had earned by many years of good conduct. He said that he had
no fear whatever of any such trouble arising with them, as they
knew that they had been well treated, that any legitimate complaint
they might make had always been attended to, and that their officers
had their welfare thoroughly at heart.

When he had finished, the senior native officer stepped forward, and
in the name of the detachment assured the Major that the men were
perfectly contented, and would in all cases follow their officers,
even if they ordered them to march against their countrymen. At the
conclusion of his speech he called upon the troops to give three
cheers for the Major and officers, and this was responded to with
a show of great enthusiasm.

This demonstration was deemed very satisfactory, and the uneasiness
among the residents abated considerably, while the Major and his
officers felt convinced that, whatever happened at other stations,
there would at least be no trouble at Deennugghur.

"Well, even you are satisfied, Doctor, I suppose?" the Major said,
as a party of them who had been dining with Dr. Wade were smoking
in the veranda.

"I was hopeful before, Major, and I am hopeful now; but I can't say
that today's parade has influenced me in the slightest. Whatever
virtues the Hindoo may have, he has certainly that of knowing how
to wait. I believe, from what took place, that they have no intention
of breaking out at present; whether they are waiting to see what
is done at other stations, or until they receive a signal, is more
than I can say; but their assurances do not weigh with me to the
slightest extent. Their history is full of cases of perfidious
massacre. I should say, 'Trust them as long as you can, but don't
relax your watch.'"

"I do not think so, Rintoul. I know the men I am talking about,
and I know the Hindoos generally. They are mere children, and can
be molded like clay. As long as we had the molding, all went well;
but if they fall into the hands of designing men they can be led
in another direction just as easily as we have led them in ours.
I own that I don't see who can be sufficiently interested in the
matter to conceive and carry out a great conspiracy of this kind.
The King of Oude is a captive in our hands, the King of Delhi is
too old to play such a part. Scindia and Holkar may possibly long
for the powers their fathers possessed, but they are not likely to
act together, and may be regarded as rivals rather than friends,
and yet if it is not one of these who has been brewing this storm.
I own I don't see who can be at the bottom of it, unless it has
really originated from some ambitious spirits among the Sepoys,
who look in the event of success to being masters of the destinies
of India. It is a pity we did not get a few more views from that
juggler; we might have known a little more of it then."

"Don't talk about him, Doctor," Wilson said; "it gives me the cold
shivers to think of that fellow and what he did; I have hardly slept
since then. It was the most creepy thing I ever saw. Richards and
I have talked it over every evening we have been alone together,
and we can't make head or tail of the affair. Richards thinks
it wasn't the girl at all who went up on that pole, but a sort of
balloon in her shape. But then, as I say, there was the girl standing
among us before she took her place on the pole. We saw her sit down
and settle herself on the cushion so that she was balanced right.
So it could not have been a balloon then, and if it were a balloon
afterwards, when did she change? At any rate the light below was
sufficient to see well until she was forty or fifty feet up, and
after that she shone out, and we never lost sight of her until
she was ever so high. I can understand the pictures, because there
might have been a magic lantern somewhere, but that girl trick, and
the basket trick, and that great snake are altogether beyond me."

"So I should imagine, Wilson," the Doctor said dryly; "and if I were
you I would not bother my head about it.. Nobody has succeeded in
finding out any of them yet, and all the wondering in the world is
not likely to get you any nearer to it."

"That is what I feel, Doctor, but it is very riling to see things
that you can't account for anyhow. I wish he had sent up Richards
on the pole instead of the girl. I would not have minded going up
myself if he had asked me, though I expect I should have jumped off
before it got up very far, even at the risk of breaking my neck."

"I should not mind risking that," the Doctor said, "though I doubt
whether I should have known any more about it when I came down;
but these jugglers always bring a girl or a boy with them instead
of calling somebody out from the audience, as they do at home. Well,
if things are quiet we will organize another hunt, Wilson. I have
heard of a tiger fifteen miles away from where we killed our last,
and you and Richards shall go with me if you like."

"I should like it of all things, Doctor, provided it comes off by
day. I don't think I care about sitting through another night on a
tree, and then not getting anything like a fair shot at the beast
after all."

"We will go by day," the Doctor said. "Bathurst has promised to get
some elephants from one of the Zemindars; we will have a regular
party this time. I have half promised Miss Hannay she shall have a
seat in a howdah with me if the Major will give her leave, and in
that case we will send out tents and make a regular party of it.
What do you say, Major?"

"I am perfectly willing, Doctor, and have certainly no objection
to trusting Isobel to your care. I know you are not likely to miss."

"No, I am not likely to miss, certainly; and besides, there will
be Wilson and Richards to give him the coup de grace if I don't
finish him."

There was a general laugh, for the two subalterns had been chaffed
a good deal at both missing the tiger on the previous occasion.

"Not just at present, at any rate," the Major said. "We must see
how things are going on. I certainly should not think of going
outside the station now, nor could I give leave to any officer
to do so; but if things settle down, and we hear no more of this
cartridge business for the next ten days or a fortnight, we will
see about it."

But although no news of any outbreak similar to that at Barrackpore
was received for some days, the report that came showed a widespread
restlessness. At various stations, all over India, fires, believed
to be the work of incendiaries, took place, and there was little
abatement of the uneasiness. It become known, too, that a native
officer had before the rising of Berhampore given warning of the
mutiny, and had stated that there was a widespread plot throughout
the native regiments to rise, kill their officers, and then march
to Delhi, where they were all to gather.

The story was generally disbelieved, although the actual rising
had shown that, to some extent, the report was well founded; still
men could not bring themselves to believe that the troops among whom
they had lived so long, and who had fought so well for us, could
meditate such gross treachery, without having, as far as could be
seen, any real cause for complaint.

The conduct of the troops at Deennugghur was excellent, and the
Colonel wrote that at Cawnpore there were no signs whatever of
disaffection, and that the Rajah of Bithoor had offered to come
down at the head of his own troops should there be any symptoms
of mutiny among the Sepoys. Altogether things looked better, and a
feeling of confidence that there would be no serious trouble spread
through the station.

The weather had set in very hot, and there was no stirring out
now for the ladies between eleven o'clock and five or six in the
afternoon. Isobel, however, generally went in for a chat, the first
thing after early breakfast, with Mrs. Doolan, whose children were
fractious with prickly heat.

"I only wish we had some big, high mountain, my dear, somewhere
within reach, where we could establish the children through the
summer and run away ourselves occasionally to look after them. We
are very badly off here in Oude for that. You are looking very pale
yourself the last few days."

"I suppose I feel it a little," Isobel said, "and of course this
anxiety everyone has been feeling worries one. Everyone seems to
agree that there is no fear of trouble with the Sepoys here; still,
as nothing else is talked about, one cannot help feeling nervous
about it. However, as things seem settling down now, I hope we
shall soon get something else to talk about."

"Nor have we," Isobel said quietly; "it is quite ten days since we
saw him last."

"I suppose he is falling back into his hermit ways," Mrs. Doolan
said carelessly, shooting a keen glance at Isobel, who was leaning
over one of the children.

"He quite emerged from his shell for a bit. Mrs. Hunter was saying
she never saw such a change in a man, but I suppose he has got
tired of it. Captain Forster arrived just in time to fill up the
gap. How do you like him, Isobel?"

"He is amusing," the girl said quietly; "I have never seen anyone
quite like him before; he talks in an easy, pleasant sort of way,
and tells most amusing stories. Then, when he sits down by one he
has the knack of dropping his voice and talking in a confidential
sort of way, even when it is only about the weather. I am always
asking myself how much of it is real, and what there is under the
surface."

"I don't think there is much under the surface, dear, and what
there is is just as well left alone; but there is no doubt he can
be delightful when he chooses, and very few women would not feel
flattered by the attentions of a man who is said to be the handsomest
officer in the Indian army, and who has besides distinguished
himself several times as a particularly dashing officer."

"I don't think handsomeness goes for much in a man," Isobel said
shortly.

"Why should it not go for as much as prettiness in a woman? It is
no use being cynical, Isobel; it is part of our nature to admire
pretty things, and as far as I can see an exceptionally handsome
man is as legitimate an object of admiration as a lovely woman."

"Well, my dear, I don't want to be hurrying you away, but I think
you had better get back before the sun gets any higher. You may say
you don't feel the heat much, but you are looking pale and fagged,
and the less you are out in the sun the better."

Isobel had indeed been having a hard time during those ten days.
At first she had thought of little but what she should do when
Bathurst called. It seemed impossible that she could be exactly
the same with him as she had been before, that was quite out of
the question, and yet how was she to be different?

Ten days had passed without his coming. This was so unusual that
an idea came into her mind which terrified her, and the first time
when the Doctor came in and found her alone she said, "Of course,
Dr. Wade, you have not mentioned to Mr. Bathurst the conversation
we had, but it is curious his not having been here since."

"Certainly I mentioned it," the Doctor said calmly; "how could I
do otherwise? It was evident to me that he would not be welcomed
here as he was before, and I could not do otherwise than warn him
of the change he might expect to find, and to give him the reason
for it."

Isobel stood the picture of dismay. "I don't think you had any
right to do so, Doctor," she said. "You have placed me in a most
painful position."

"In not so painful a one as it would have been, my dear, if he had
noticed the change himself, as he must have done, and asked for
the cause of it."

Isobel stood twisting her fingers over each other before her
nervously.

"I do not see that there is anything more for you to do," the Doctor
said. "Mr. Bathurst may not be perfect in all respects, but he is
certainly too much of a gentleman to force his visits where they
are not wanted. I do not say he will not come here at all, for not
to do so after being here so much would create comment and talk
in the station, which would be as painful to you as to him, but he
certainly will not come here more often than is necessary to keep
up appearances."

"I don't think you ought to have told him," Isobel repeated, much
distressed.

"I could not help it, my dear. You would force me to admit there
was some truth in the story Captain Forster told you, and I was,
therefore, obliged to acquaint him with the fact or he would have
had just cause to reproach me. Besides, you spoke of despising a
man who was not physically brave."

"I only told what it was necessary he should know, my dear, namely,
that you had heard the story, that you had questioned me, and that
I, knowing the facts from his lips, admitted that there was some
foundation for the story, while asserting that I was convinced that
he was morally a brave man. He did not ask how you took the news,
nor did I volunteer any information whatever on the subject, but
he understood, I think, perfectly the light in which you would view
a coward."

"I should say that you will meet just as ordinary .acquaintances
do meet, Miss Hannay. People are civil to others they are thrown
with, however much they may distrust them at heart. You may be sure
that Mr. Bathurst will make no allusion whatever to the matter. I
think I can answer for it that you will see no shade of difference
in his manner. This has always been a heavy burden for him, as even
the most careless observer may see in his manner. I do not say that
this is not a large addition to it, but I dare say he will pull
through; and now I must be off."

"Unkind!" the Doctor repeated, with an air of surprise. "In what
way? I love this young fellow. I had cherished hopes for him that
he hardly perhaps ventured to cherish for himself. I quite agree
with you that what has passed has annihilated those hopes. You
despise a man who is a coward. I am not surprised at that. Bathurst
is the last man in the world who would force himself upon a woman
who despised him. I have done my best to save you from being obliged
to make a personal declaration of your sentiments. I repudiate
altogether the accusation as being unkind. I don't blame you in
the slightest. I think that your view is the one that a young woman
of spirit would naturally take. I acquiesce in it entirely. I will
go farther, I consider it a most fortunate occurrence for you both
that you found it out in time."

Isobel's cheeks had flushed and paled several times while he was
speaking; then she pressed her lips tightly together, and as he
finished she said, "I think, Doctor, it will be just as well not
to discuss the matter further."

"I am quite of your opinion," he said. "We will agree not to allude
to it again. Goodby."

And then Isobel had retired to her room and cried passionately,
while the Doctor had gone off chuckling to himself as if he were
perfectly satisfied with the state of affairs.

During the week that had since elapsed the Major had wondered and
grumbled several times at Bathurst's absence.

"I expect," he said one day, when a note of refusal had come from
him, "that he doesn't care about meeting Forster. You remember
Forster said they had been at school together, and from the tone in
which he spoke it is evident that they disliked each other there.
No doubt he has heard from the Doctor that Forster is frequently in
here," and the Major spoke rather irritably, for it seemed to him
that Isobel showed more pleasure in the Captain's society than she
should have done after what he had said to her about him; indeed,
Isobel, especially when the Doctor was present, appeared by no
means to object to Captain Forster's attentions.

Upon the evening, however, of the day when Isobel had spoken to
Mrs. Doolan, Bathurst came in, rather late in the evening.

"How are you, Bathurst?" the Major said cordially. "Why, you have
become quite a stranger. We haven't seen you for over a fortnight.
Do you know Captain Forster?"

"We were at school together formerly, I believe," Bathurst said
quietly. "We have not met since, and I fancy we are both changed
beyond recognition."

Captain Forster looked with surprise at the strong, well knit
figure. He had not before seen Bathurst, and had pictured him to
himself as a weak, puny man.

"I certainly should not have known Mr. Bathurst," he said. "I have
changed a great deal, no doubt, but he has certainly changed more."

There was no attempt on the part of either to shake hands. As they
moved apart Isobel came into the room.

A quick flash of color spread over her face when, upon entering,
she saw Bathurst talking to her uncle. Then she advanced, shook
hands with him as usual, and said, "It is quite a time since you
were here, Mr. Bathurst. If everyone was as full of business as
you are, we should get on badly."

Then she moved on without waiting for a reply and sat down, and
was soon engaged in a lively conversation with. Captain Forster,
whilst Bathurst, a few minutes later, pleading that as he had been
in the saddle all day he must go and make up for lost time, took
his leave.

Captain Forster had noticed the flush on Isobel's cheeks when she
saw Bathurst, and had drawn his own conclusions.

"There has been a flirtation between them," he said to himself;
"but I fancy I have put a spoke in his wheel. She gave him the cold
shoulder unmistakably."

April passed, and as matters seemed to be quieting down, there
being no fresh trouble at any of the stations, the Major told Dr.
Wade that he really saw no reason why the projected tiger hunt
should not take place. The Doctor at once took the matter in hand,
and drove out the next morning to the village from which he had
received news about the tiger, had a long talk with the shikaris
of the place, took a general view of the country, settled the line
in which the beat should take place, and arranged for a large body
of beaters to be on the spot at the time agreed on.

Bathurst undertook to obtain the elephants from two Zemindars in
the neighborhood, who promised to furnish six, all of which were
more or less accustomed to the sport; while the Major and Mr. Hunter,
who had been a keen sportsman, although he had of late given up
the pursuit of large game, arranged for a number of bullock carts
for the transport of tents and stores.

Bathurst himself declined to be one of the party, which was to
consist of Mr. Hunter and his eldest daughter, the Major and Isobel,
the Doctor, the two subalterns, and Captain Forster. Captain Doolan
said frankly that he was no shot, and more likely to hit one of
the party than the tiger. Captain Rintoul at first accepted, but
his wife shed such floods of tears at the idea of his leaving her
and going into danger, that for the sake of peace he agreed to
remain at home.

Wilson and Richards were greatly excited over the prospect, and
talked of nothing else; they were burning to wipe out the disgrace
of having missed on the previous occasion. Each of them interviewed
the Doctor privately, and implored him to put them in a position
where they were likely to have the first shot. Both used the same
arguments, namely, that the Doctor had killed so many tigers that
one more or less could make no difference to him, and if they
missed, which they modestly admitted was possible, he could still
bring the animal down.

As the Doctor was always in a good temper when there was a prospect
of sport, he promised each of them to do all that he could for them,
at the same time pointing out that it was always quite a lottery
which way the tiger might break out.

Isobel was less excited than she would have thought possible over the
prospect of taking part in a tiger hunt. She had many consultations
to hold with Mrs. Hunter, the Doctor, and Rumzan as to the food
to be taken, and the things that would be absolutely necessary for
camping out; for, as it was possible that the first day's beat would
be unsuccessful, they were to be prepared for at least two days'
absence from home. Two tents were to be taken, one for the gentlemen,
the other for Isobel and Mary Hunter. These, with bedding and camp
furniture, cooking utensils and provisions, were to be sent off
at daybreak, while the party were to start as soon as the heat of
the day was over.

"I wish Bathurst had been coming," Major Hannay said, as, with
Isobel by his side, he drove out of the cantonment. "He seems
to have slipped away from us altogether; he has only been in once
for the last three or four weeks. You haven't had a tiff with him
about anything, have you, Isobel? It seems strange his ceasing so
suddenly to come after our seeing so much of him."

"No, uncle, I have not seen him except when you have. What put such
an idea into your mind?"

"I don't know, my dear; young people do have tiffs sometimes about
all sorts of trifles, though I should not have thought that Bathurst
was the sort of man to do anything of that sort. I don't think that
he likes Forster, and does not care to meet him. I fancy that is
at the bottom of it."

It was dark when they reached the appointed spot, and indeed from
the point where they left the road a native with a torch had run
ahead to show them the way. The tents looked bright; two or three
large fires were burning round them, and the lamps had already been
lighted within.

"These tents do look cozy," Mary Hunter said, as she and Isobel
entered the one prepared for them. "I do wish one always lived
under canvas during the hot weather."

"They look cool," Isobel said, "but I don't suppose they are really
as cool as the bungalows; but they do make them comfortable. Here
is the bathroom all ready, and I am sure we want it after that dusty
drive. Will you have one first, or shall I? We must make haste, for
Rumzan said dinner would be ready in half an hour. Fortunately we
shan't be expected to do much in the way of dressing."

The tiger had killed a cow the day before, and the villagers were
certain that he had retired to a deep nullah round which a careful
watch had been kept all day. Probably he would steal out by night
to make a meal from the carcass of the cow, but it had been arranged
that he was to do this undisturbed, and that the hunt was to take
place by daylight.

"It is wonderful how the servants manage everything," Isobel said.
"The table is just as well arranged as it is at home. People would
hardly believe in England, if they could see us sitting here, that
we were only out on a two days' picnic. They would be quite content
there to rough it and take their meals sitting on the ground,
or anyway they could get them. It really seems ridiculous having
everything like this."

"There is nothing like making yourself comfortable," the Doctor
said; "and as the servants have an easy time of it generally, it
does them good to bestir themselves now and then. The expense of
one or two extra bullock carts is nothing, and it makes all the
difference in comfort."

"How far is the nullah from here, Doctor?" Wilson, who could think
of nothing else but the tiger, asked.

"About two miles. It is just as well not to go any nearer. Not that
he would be likely to pay us a visit, but he might take the alarm
and shift his quarters. No, no more wine, Major; we shall want
our blood cool in the morning. Now we will go out to look at the
elephants and have a talk with the mahouts, and find out which of
the animals can be most trusted to stand steady. It is astonishing
what a dread most elephants have of tigers. I was on one once that
I was assured would face anything, and the brute bolted and went
through some trees, and I was swept off the pad and was half an hour
before I opened my eyes. It was a mercy I had not every rib broken.
Fortunately I was a lightweight, or I might have been killed. And
I have seen the same sort of thing happen a dozen times, so we must
choose a couple of steady ones, anyhow, for the ladies."

For the next hour they strolled about outside. The Doctor cross
questioned the mahouts and told off the elephants for the party;
then there was a talk with the native shikaris and arrangements
made for the beat, and at an early hour all retired to rest. The
morning was just breaking when they were called. Twenty minutes
later they assembled to take a cup of coffee before starting. The
elephants were arranged in front of the tents, and they were just
about to mount when a horse was heard coming at a gallop.

"Wait a moment," the Major said; "it may be a message of some sort
from the station." A minute later Bathurst rode in and reined up
his horse in front of the tent.

"Why, Bathurst, what brings you here? Changed your mind at the last
moment, and found you could get away? That's right; you shall come
on the pad with me."

"No, I have not come for that, Major; I have brought a dispatch that
arrived at two o'clock this morning. Doolan opened it and came to
me, and asked me to bring it on to you, as I knew the way and where
your camp was to be pitched."

"Nothing serious, I hope, Bathurst," the Major said, struck with the
gravity with which Bathurst spoke. "It must be something important,
or Doolan would never have routed you off like that."

"It is very serious, Major," Bathurst said, in a low voice. "May
I suggest you had better go into the tent to read it? Some of the
servants understand English."

"Come in with me," the Major said, and led the way into the tent,
where the lamps were still burning on the breakfast table, although
the light had broadened out over the sky outside. It was with grave
anticipation of evil that the Major took the paper from its envelope,
but his worst fears were more than verified by the contents.

"My Dear Major: The General has just received a telegram with terrible
news from Meerut. 'Native troops mutinied, murdered officers, women,
and children, opened jails and burned cantonments, and marched to
Delhi.' It is reported that there has been a general rising there
and the massacre of all Europeans. Although this is not confirmed,
the news is considered probable. We hear also that the native
cavalry at Lucknow have mutinied. Lawrence telegraphs that he has
suppressed it with the European troops there, and has disarmed the
mutineers. I believe that our regiment will be faithful, but none
can be trusted now. I should recommend your preparing some fortified
house to which all Europeans in station can retreat in case of
trouble. Now that they have taken to massacre as well as mutiny,
God knows how it will all end."

"Good Heavens! who could have dreamt of this?" the Major groaned.
"Massacred their officers, women, and children. All Europeans at
Delhi supposed to have been massacred, and there must be hundreds
of them. Can it be true?"

"The telegram as to Meerut is clearly an official one," Bathurst
said. "Delhi is as yet but a rumor, but it is too probable that
if these mutineers and jail birds, flushed with success, reached
Delhi before the whites were warned, they would have their own way
in the place, as, with the exception of a few artillerymen at the
arsenal, there is not a white soldier in the place."

"But there were white troops at Meerut," the Major said. "What
could they have been doing? However, that is not the question now.
We must, of course, return instantly. Ask the others to come in
here, Bathurst. Don't tell the girls what has taken place; it will
be time enough for that afterwards. All that is necessary to say is
that you have brought news of troubles at some stations unaffected
before, and that I think it best to return at once."

The men were standing in a group, wondering what the news could be
which was deemed of such importance that Bathurst should carry it
out in the middle of the night.

"The Major will be glad if you will all go in, gentlemen," Bathurst
said, as he joined them.

"No, I think not, Miss Hunter; the fact is there have been some
troubles at two or three other places, and the Major is going to
hold a sort of council of war as to whether the hunt had not better
be given up. I rather fancy that they will decide to go back at
once. News flies very fast in India. I think the Major would like
that he and his officers should be back before it is whispered among
the Sepoys that the discontent has not, as we hoped, everywhere
ceased."

"It must be very serious," Isobel said, "or uncle would never decide
to go back, when all the preparations are made."

"It would never do, you see, Miss Hannay, for the Commandant and
four of the officers to be away, if the Sepoys should take it into
their heads to refuse to receive cartridges or anything of that
sort."

"We have settled, Bathurst," the Major said, when he entered, "that
we must, of course, go back at once. The Doctor, however, is of
opinion that if, after all the preparations were made, we were to
put the tiger hunt off altogether, it would set the natives talking,
and the report would go through the country like wildfire that
some great disaster had happened. We must go back at once, and Mr.
Hunter, having a wife and daughter there, is anxious to get back,
too; but the Doctor urges that he should go out and kill this
tiger. As it is known that you have just arrived, he says that if
you are willing to go with him, it will be thought that you had
come here to join the hunt, and if that comes off, and the tiger
is killed, it does not matter whether two or sixty of us went out."

"I shall be quite willing to do so," said Bathurst, "and I really
think that the Doctor's advice is good. If, now that you have all
arrived upon the ground, the preparations were canceled, there
can be no doubt that the natives would come to the conclusion that
something very serious had taken place, and it would be all over
the place in no time."

"Thank you, Bathurst. Then we will consider that arranged. Now we
will get the horses in as soon as possible, and be off at once."

Ten minutes later the buggies were brought round, and the whole
party, with the exception of the Doctor and Bathurst, started for
Deennugghur.